UCLA School of Dentistry is in Los Angeles, California and offers a DDS (4 years). It has the highest average GPA of the ten schools in this series, and it is the hardest for Canadians to qualify for[3]. This page lists what UCLA asks for on its own admissions pages, with the latest numbers from the American Dental Association and a section for Canadian applicants.
At a glance
| UCLA | |
|---|---|
| Degree and length | DDS, 4 years |
| School type | Public |
| Application deadline | DAT by December 31; applications are reviewed from July[4] |
| Minimum GPA | None published[4] |
| Minimum DAT | None. Scores of 420 and above (20 on the old scale) are considered competitive.[4] |
| Canadian DAT | No |
| Shadowing | No set number of hours. Shadowing is reviewed with your volunteering, research and work. |
| Letters | At least 3 letters (4 are recommended), from any objective source. |
| Offers per 100 applications | 7.4[2] |
How it ranks among US dental schools
| Measure, 2025-26 | UCLA | Rank | Average of all schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications received | 1,875 | 37th of 76 1st = most applications | 1,835 |
| Offers per 100 applications | 7.4 | 14th of 76 1st = most selective | 12.3 |
| Average GPA of the entering class | 3.87 | 3rd of 76 1st = highest | 3.68 |
| Average DAT Academic Average | 470 | 5th of 70 1st = highest | 437 |
| First-year class size | 88 | 35th of 76 1st = largest | 96 |
| First-year tuition, non-residents | $69,154 | 58th of 76 1st = most expensive | $80,372 |
| Canadian citizens in the first-year class | 0 | 24th of 76 1st = most Canadians | 2 |
| Share of the class from the home state | 86% | 15th of 76 1st = most in-state | 58% |
Ranks compare the US dental schools that reported each figure to the American Dental Association for 2025-26[2].
Prerequisite courses
At least three years of coursework (90 semester or 135 quarter units); most applicants have four. Community college credit is limited to 70 semester units, and online classes are not accepted.[4]
| Course | Amount required |
|---|---|
| Inorganic or general chemistry, with lab | 8 semester hours |
| Organic chemistry, with lab | 6 semester hours |
| Physics, with lab | 8 semester hours |
| Biology, with lab | 8 semester hours |
| English composition | 6 semester hours |
| Introductory psychology | 3 semester hours |
| Biochemistry | Required |
You need a C or higher in each, finished by June 30 of the year you start.[4]
GPA and DAT
Minimum GPA: None published
Minimum DAT: None. Scores of 420 and above (20 on the old scale) are considered competitive.[4]
What the school reports: Class of 2028: average GPA 3.87 overall and 3.84 in science; average DAT 23 overall, 23 science and 22 perceptual on the old scale; 88 students.[3]
What the national survey reports for 2025-26: the entering class had an average GPA of 3.87 and a science GPA of 3.85, with an average DAT Academic Average of 470, Total Science of 480 and Perceptual Ability of 470 on the new 200 to 600 scale[2]. The DAT moved from a 1 to 30 scale to a 200 to 600 scale in 2025, so some school pages still quote old-scale scores; a 20 on the old scale is roughly 420 on the new one.
How long DAT scores last: Taken no later than December 31, and within a three-year period including the year you apply.[4]
Averages by year
The charts below show every entering class from 2015 to 2025. The average overall GPA went from 3.74 to 3.87 over that time[1].
UCLA: average GPA of the entering class, by year
Overall GPA and science GPA of first-year students (the year shown is when the academic year started).
| Year | Overall GPA | Science GPA | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3.74 | 3.69 | |
| 2016 | 3.75 | 3.73 | |
| 2017 | 3.74 | 3.70 | |
| 2018 | 3.80 | 3.77 | |
| 2019 | 3.77 | 3.73 | |
| 2020 | 3.74 | 3.68 | |
| 2021 | 3.72 | 3.67 | |
| 2022 | 3.83 | 3.81 | |
| 2023 | 3.83 | 3.79 | |
| 2024 | 3.84 | 3.81 | |
| 2025 | 3.87 | 3.85 | [1] |
Source: American Dental Association, Survey of Dental Education, 2015-16 to 2025-26 editions.
UCLA: average DAT scores of the entering class, by year
Old 1 to 30 scale: Academic Average, Total Science and Perceptual Ability.
| Year | Academic Average | Total Science | Perceptual Ability | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2016 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2017 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2018 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2019 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2020 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2021 | 22.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2022 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 23.0 | |
| 2023 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | |
| 2024 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 21.0 | [1] |
The 2025-26 class is not on this chart because the DAT moved to a 200 to 600 scale. Its averages were 470 Academic Average, 480 Total Science and 470 Perceptual Ability.
Canadian applicants
Is the Canadian DAT accepted? No. UCLA states that Canadian DATs are not accepted.[4]
This is the strictest school in the series for Canadians. UCLA says international students who need a student visa must complete all pre-dental prerequisites at an accredited US college or university, and it does not accept the Canadian DAT. Financial aid is limited to US citizens and permanent residents. If your prerequisites are from a Canadian university, confirm with the admissions office before you pay to apply.[4][3]
How many Canadians are in the class?
In 2025-26, none of the 88 first-year students at UCLA were Canadian citizens[2]. 7 were citizens of other countries.
The same was true every year from 2019 to 2025: the school reported no Canadian citizens in any first-year class[1].
Comparing schools? Our table of all 76 US dental schools lets you sort by applications, GPA, DAT and tuition, and our Canadian dental school requirements cover the ten schools at home.
How to apply
- Application: through ADEA AADSAS, the shared application for US dental schools.
- Deadline: DAT by December 31; applications are reviewed from July[4]
- School fee and extra forms: $60 supplemental fee; no secondary application.
- Letters: At least 3 letters (4 are recommended), from any objective source.
- Shadowing: No set number of hours. Shadowing is reviewed with your volunteering, research and work.
- Interview: By invitation only.
Who is in the class
86% of the 2025-26 first-year class (76 of 88 students) were residents of California[2]. That leaves 12 seats that went to people from elsewhere.
UCLA: where first-year students live
Home state and the five most common other states or provinces, 2025-26.
Education before dental school: first-year students entered 86 with a bachelor’s degree, 1 with a master’s degree, 1 with a PhD[2]. Almost everyone had finished a degree, so plan to complete yours even where the school does not strictly require it.
Women and men: the first-year class had 68 women and 20 men (77% women)[2]. Women sent 1,130 applications and men sent 741.
Students in each year of the program:
| 1st year | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year | All years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | 88 | 117 | 117 | 411 |
What the school says it weighs
Each year the American Dental Association asks every dental school how important each part of an application is. This is how UCLA answered for 2025-26[2].
DAT sections
| Rating | DAT sections |
|---|---|
| Somewhat important | Academic Average, Perceptual Ability, Total Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Biology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry |
Grades and other factors
| Rating | Factors |
|---|---|
| Somewhat important | Science GPA, Non-science GPA, Overall GPA, Interview, Letters of recommendation, Manual dexterity, Community service, Professional experience, Overcoming personal or financial challenges |
It did not rate any item as unimportant, so a weak area is unlikely to be overlooked.
Applications and class size over time
In 2025-26, UCLA received 1,875 applications, made 139 offers and enrolled 88 first-year students[2]. That is 7.4 offers for every 100 applications. Offers are higher than seats because many accepted applicants choose another school.
UCLA: offers per 100 applications, by year
Applicants offered a place, divided by applications received.
| Year | Offers per 100 applications | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 7.7 | |
| 2016 | 7.3 | |
| 2017 | 7.9 | |
| 2018 | 11.4 | |
| 2019 | 10.2 | |
| 2020 | 9.9 | |
| 2021 | 7.5 | |
| 2022 | 9.4 | |
| 2023 | 8.7 | |
| 2024 | 7.9 | |
| 2025 | 7.4 | [1] |
UCLA: applications received
By academic year (the year shown is when the year started).
| Year | Applications | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,769 | |
| 2016 | 1,819 | |
| 2017 | 1,785 | |
| 2018 | 1,447 | |
| 2019 | 1,309 | |
| 2020 | 1,398 | |
| 2021 | 1,816 | |
| 2022 | 1,505 | |
| 2023 | 1,591 | |
| 2024 | 1,691 | |
| 2025 | 1,875 | [2] |
UCLA: first-year enrolment
By academic year (the year shown is when the year started).
| Year | First-year students | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 87 | |
| 2016 | 87 | |
| 2017 | 88 | |
| 2018 | 88 | |
| 2019 | 88 | |
| 2020 | 88 | |
| 2021 | 88 | |
| 2022 | 88 | |
| 2023 | 88 | |
| 2024 | 88 | |
| 2025 | 88 | [2] |
The program in numbers
| UCLA | |
|---|---|
| Degree | D.D.S. |
| Calendar | Quarter system |
| Program type | Four academic years over 48 months |
| Total length | 163 weeks of instruction |
| Total dental students | 411 |
| Graduates in 2025 | 113 |
| Patient visits handled by students in a year | 28,545 (7,246 at sites outside the school) |
| New patients screened in a year | 1,591 |
| Combined degree programs | PhD |
| Dentists trained abroad | Admitted with advanced standing (30 in 2025-26, into 3rd year standing) |
| Transfer students | Not accepted |
Figures are what the school reported for 2025-26[2].
UCLA: total students and graduates
All dental students enrolled, and graduates each year.
| Year | Total dental students | Graduates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 388 | 108 | |
| 2016 | 385 | 107 | |
| 2017 | 385 | 107 | |
| 2018 | 383 | 106 | |
| 2019 | 390 | 96 | |
| 2020 | 389 | 108 | |
| 2021 | 392 | 105 | |
| 2022 | 403 | 105 | |
| 2023 | 399 | 114 | |
| 2024 | 405 | 111 | |
| 2025 | 411 | 113 | [2] |
Tuition and cost
UCLA: cost in US dollars, 2025-26
Canadians pay the non-resident amount at public schools.
Figures are in US dollars and do not include living costs. Program totals are the school's estimate for a student starting in 2025-26.
UCLA: first-year tuition and fees by year
US dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
| Year | Non-residents | Residents | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 50,303 | 41,253 | |
| 2016 | 50,798 | 41,748 | |
| 2017 | 52,399 | 43,001 | |
| 2018 | 53,592 | 43,816 | |
| 2019 | 55,238 | 45,045 | |
| 2020 | 56,737 | 46,094 | |
| 2021 | 58,356 | 47,221 | |
| 2022 | 60,052 | 48,383 | |
| 2023 | 63,569 | 51,324 | |
| 2024 | 66,812 | 54,567 | |
| 2025 | 69,154 | 56,909 | [2] |
Non-resident first-year tuition and fees went from $50,303 in 2015 to $69,154 in 2025, a change of +37%.
Tuition for each year of the program
| Year of the program | Tuition, residents | Tuition, non-residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $56,909 | $69,154 |
| 2nd year | $61,377 | $73,622 |
| 3rd year | $61,377 | $73,622 |
| 4th year | $61,377 | $73,622 |
| All years | $241,040 | $290,020 |
Fees and other required costs over the whole program
| Cost | Total for all years |
|---|---|
| Instruments | $31,134 |
| Instructional materials | $4,100 |
| Health services | $27,528 |
| Other fixed costs | $23,249 |
| All fees and required costs | $86,011 |
These are on top of tuition and do not include rent, food or travel[2]. Canadians pay in US dollars, so the exchange rate adds to the cost.
See how this compares in our guide to dental school costs in the USA.
Frequently asked questions
Does UCLA accept the Canadian DAT?
No. UCLA states that Canadian DATs are not accepted.[4]
What GPA do you need for UCLA dental school?
What DAT score do you need for UCLA?
How many shadowing hours does UCLA require?
No set number of hours. Shadowing is reviewed with your volunteering, research and work.[4]
When is the UCLA dental school application deadline?
DAT by December 31; applications are reviewed from July. Applying earlier helps because interviews are offered on a rolling basis.[4]
How hard is it to get into UCLA dental school?
In 2025-26 it received 1,875 applications, made 139 offers and enrolled 88 students, about 7.4 offers per 100 applications.[2]
How many Canadians go to UCLA dental school?
In 2025-26, none of the 88 first-year students were Canadian citizens.[2]
What share of UCLA dental students are from out of state?
In 2025-26, 86% of the first-year class (76 of 88) were residents of California, so 14% came from elsewhere.[2]
How important is the DAT Perceptual Ability section at UCLA?
UCLA told the American Dental Association that the Perceptual Ability score is somewhat important in its admissions decisions for 2025-26.[2]
Does UCLA have a program for dentists trained outside the US?
Yes. In 2025-26 UCLA admitted 30 internationally trained dentists with advanced standing. That is a separate application from the regular program described on this page.[2]
How much does UCLA dental school cost for the whole program?
Tuition for all years totals $290,020 for non-residents in 2025-26 dollars, plus about $86,011 in fees, instruments and other required costs. Living costs are extra.[2]
Sources
- American Dental Association: Survey of Dental Education, Report 2, editions 2015-16 to 2025-26
- American Dental Association: Survey of Dental Education 2025-26, Reports 1 and 2
- UCLA School of Dentistry: admission selection process
- UCLA School of Dentistry: DDS prerequisites
Figures were checked against these sources on November 11, 2026. Schools change their numbers every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.
Does this program consider Canadians as out of state or international?